to specialize in
165
3.9
- phrasal verb
- /ˈspɛʃəˌlaɪz ɪn/
- US
:
especializarse en
- At the time, I was a tour operator specializing in trips to Israel.
- specialize in a field
- specialize in law
- specialize in science
So we walk into a store that specializes in men's suits.
- So we walk into a store that specializes in men's suits.
- I'm a lash tech and I specialize in lashes and brows.
- Judd is a psychiatrist and neuroscientist who specializes in the science of habit change.
- And so you'll hear some amazing speakers that specialize in how to teach, how to teach well.
- Enter Brad Stolberg, writer, coach, and personal friend specializing in human performance and well-being.
- You really need to find people who specialize in a niche.
- They specialize in gift mystery boxes.
- And of course, he had a law firm that was specialised in transgender law.
- And that should be pretty cut and dry, but they don't all specialize in everything.
- They specialize in helping people reduce their tax burdens.
- How is our eosinophil, you know, specialized in killing these parasites?
- Definitely, you just need to separate and have people specialize in specific things and that's their duty.
- But the effect is that your memory cells specialize in destroying that piece.
Examples
-
Vera now worked for the Department of Social Services, specializing in child welfare.
Fiction book (1993) -
Doctor Cassidy is a general surgeon specializing in breast cancer.
-
You specialized in internal investigations.
-
The factory was down the road, and it specialized in wet feed.
Academic text (2017) -
"My background gives me insights that those who have specialized in only a single field tend to miss."
Fiction book (1997) -
But, I do specialize in divorce.
-
I specialize in the education and entertainment of children.
-
You really need to find people who specialize in a niche.
-
Enter Brad Stolberg, writer, coach, and personal friend specializing in human performance and well-being.
-
Emma Johnson is a New York-based journalist who specializes in business and personal finance.
Synonyms
208
4.3
To focus on one area of work or study and become an expert
Antonyms
How Specialized
Surface Forms
Morphology
specialize + in
The meaning 'to concentrate on and become an expert in a particular subject' is directly derivable from 'specialize' (to concentrate study or career on one field) combined with the preposition 'in' indicating the domain or field. This is a regular verb + preposition construction that maps transparently to the constituents and is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows the words would readily infer the meaning.
Etymology
The verb specialize in comes from the idea of choosing a special part of a job or study and working closely in that area. So, specialize in means 'to focus on one subject or area and become an expert'.